Matt Farrell

The Blue Angels Crossing Maneuver at Sun N Fun 2025 The first time you lift off, everything shifts. You feel it in your chest: the rumble of the engine, the tilt of the horizon, the rush of lifting away from the earth. For a while, flying might feel like a solo act. But it doesn’t take long to realize: aviation is never a solo mission. The pilot lifestyle isn’t about just gripping a yoke or chasing clouds, it’s about the people who make flying feel like home. What keeps us coming back,...

After numerous years of reliable service, the battery in my Appareo Stratus 2 was starting to show its age. It had powered me through countless flights, delivering dependable subscription-free ADS-B traffic and weather to my EFB without fail. I trusted that little unit. Late in 2025, when the Aero-Mach booth was situated right next to Appareo Aviation at an Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Forum, I was able to spend time with Jordan Runsvold , Product Manager for Appareo Aviation,...

Dry washing an airplane is the perfect alternative when wet washing is not an option Have you heard the audio clip from Oshkosh? "Cessna with the REALLY dirty belly, rock your wings…” You can almost feel the pilot’s embarrassment through the headset. A grimy airplane isn’t just unsightly, it practically begs for attention. But the truth is, it’s not always the owner’s fault. At many GA airports, wet washing simply isn’t an option. Some fields don’t have a proper wash rack. Others lack runoff...